Dancing toy.



No. 832,196. PATENTED OCT. 2, 1906.

W. J. HUSTBD.

DANCING TOY.

APPLICATION FILED Lum, 1906.

UNITED sTATFs PATENT OFFICF..

WILLIAM J. HUSTFD, OF SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA.

DANCING TOY. l

` Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 2, 1906.

i Application led January 2. 1906. Serial No. 294,167.

'To au whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. HUsTED, a citizen ofthe United States,residing at Sacramento, in the county. of Sacramento and ence to theaccompanying drawing, in which the figure is a side elevation of thedevice.

Various devices for amusement comprising suspended figures withloosely-jointed legs have been constructed, such devices being usuallyoperated by the aid of the fingers either to move the figure itself orin other ways to cause the necessary movement to imitate dancing.

It is the object of my invention to provide a means by which theoperation is carried on without any other attention than to start theapparatus.

As shownfin the drawing of the present construction, A is a fixedplatform, and 2 is an elastic platform fitted into an opening in themain stationary platform A, so that it .may be caused to vibrate, aswill be hereinafter described.

The figure 3 has loosely-jointed legs 4, and it is supported by a curvedor equivalent bar 5, fixed at some point in the rear and enter- 'ing theback of the figure, so that the figure is supported at such a point thatits feet will just touch the vibratory platform.

6 is a shield or guard extending up behind the figure and serving to cutoff the view of the operating mechanism. In order to vibrate the latformabove which the figure stands, and thus cause the feet and legs to moveso as to simulate dancing, I have shown a revoluble shaft 7, having uonV it a cam 8. This shaft is journaled beneat the front and free end ofthe platform 2 and at some distance below the platform.

9 is an elastic spring-arm fixed tothe lower surface of platform 2 andhaving its end extended out so that the cam when revolved will contactwith thisend of the arm, and by reason of the elasticity of the platformand the spring-arm the action of the cam will cause the platform tomovewith a peculiar life and elasticity.

i; In order to rotate the cam or crank and actuate the platform, variousmechanical contrivances are employed. In the present case I havev showna small motor, as at 10, and a suitable battery by which the motor maybe energized, and by means of a belt 11, extending from the motor to awheel 12 on the crank or cam shaft, the device will be operated so as tokeep the movable platform constantly in motion, and the contact with thefeet of the figure produces the imitation of dancing desired. It will beunderstood that in place of the motor clockwork or other mechanism maybe suitably disposed with relation to the platform to operate it, or itmay be operated y a hand-crank upon the cam-shaft.

Having thus described my invention, what AI claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

' 1. ,The combination with a figure having a xed support andloosely-jointedlegs, of an elastic vibratory platform with which thefeet of the figure contact, a revoluble cam or crank contactingperiodically with theplatform, said platform having a member flxed to itand projecting into the range of action of the cam or crank and a motorby which the cam is actuated.

2. The combination with a figure having a substantially fixed supportand loosely-jointed legs of an elastic platform, with the free end ofwhich the feet of the figure contact, a cam and means by which said camis revolved beneath the platform, and a contact device fixedly securedto the platform and extending into the range of action of the cam, andby which the movement of the cam is transmitted to the latform.

3. The combinatlon with a figure having a substantially fixed supportand loosely-jointed legs, an elastic platform with thefree end of whichthe feet of the figure are in contact, a revoluble cam or crank mountedbeneath the platform, an arm fixed to the platform between its point ofsup ort and free end, said arm projecting into tfie line of motion ofthe cam.

4. The combination with a figure having a substantially fixed supportand loosely-jointed legs, a flexible elastic platform, with the free endof which the feet of the figure contact, of an elastic arm fixed to thelower surface of the platform between its ends and exupon a revolubleshaft and adapted to conarm, and a, motor by which the cam-shaft is .1otact with the end of the elastic arm. revolved.

5. The combination with a e having a In testimony whereof I havehereunto set substantially fixed support and oosel -jointmy hand inpresence of two subscribing wit- 5 ed legs, a exible elastic platformfixe at one messes. l

end having an elastic arm xed between its 1 .WILLIAM J. HUSTED. endsextending forwardl 'beneatfx the plat- Witnesses: form of a cam mounteupon `a eheh?J and S., H. NOURSE, adapted to eontactwith the end of thespringn j 'HENRY P. TRIGOU.

